Chapter 90: The Three Friends of Winter

The Capital.

Several days later.

"Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, all Gods and all Demons, enter my gate, and obey my every command."

When this long chant rang out, Yu Liancheng knew the Three Friends of Winter had arrived.

Immediately after, his vision blurred, and three old men appeared before him, wearing dark green embroidered robes and high white jade and gold crowns.

"Greetings, Young Cult Master."

The three old men in dark green robes bowed in unison, their expressions respectful.

They were the Three Friends of Winter.

They were also the three great Elders of the Rakshasa Cult.

Yu Liancheng said in a very flat voice, "Rise."

"Thank you, Young Cult Master."

Given the status of these three, they should not have been so respectful to Yu Liancheng.

Yet they were precisely that respectful; even the most fastidious person could not pick a single flaw.

And when they stood straight, Shangguan Xueer, who was to the side, saw the monster with a human head and snake body, bird claws and bat wings, embroidered on the chests of their robes.

This monster also seemed to possess some kind of eerie power; although it was merely embroidered on their clothes, anyone who saw it would immediately feel an indescribable chill rise up, unable to stop themselves from shivering.

"Very good. It has been a while since I last saw the three Elders. The three Elders are as spirited and robust as ever." Yu Liancheng looked at the Three Friends of Winter, a smile seemingly on his face.

"Thanks to the Young Cult Master's great fortune." Yu Liancheng was sizing up the Three Friends of Winter, and how could the Three Friends of Winter not be sizing up the Young Cult Master?

The Rakshasa Cult's influence was vast, and Yu Liancheng's party had not concealed their tracks, so they had long since known the news regarding Yu Liancheng.

It was just that the Sect Leader was in closed-door cultivation, and the various Elders in the sect also had different agendas; many likely hoped he would die out there, so they did not send anyone to escort him back to the sect, only spies to inquire about his news.

But the news the spies brought back made the high-level officials within the Rakshasa Cult drop their jaws.

That Young Cult Master, who was originally known for debauchery and accomplishing nothing, was actually a top-tier expert with great ambition, and upon entering the Central Plains, he had performed one sensational feat after another in the Edo.

As a result, before the Sect Leader issued an order, naturally no one mentioned "escorting" the Young Cult Master back to the sect.

After all, the Young Cult Master's martial arts were formidable, likely taught to him by the Sect Leader himself.

And this entry into the Central Plains might also be part of a grand strategy, preparing for the Rakshasa Cult to take over the Central Plains in the future.

However, although the news reported by the spies was shocking, Yu Liancheng's image as a playboy was deeply ingrained in the sect, and it was difficult to change that perception in a short time.

Therefore, even though the Three Friends of Winter had been prepared, they were still surprised to see Yu Liancheng standing there with his hands behind his back, smiling, and radiating the aura of a Grandmaster as steady as an abyss and as towering as a mountain.

"I already know about what has happened in the Rakshasa Cult."

Yu Liancheng's posture was indifferent, his gaze revealing a playful expression as he swept his eyes over the three of them: "Did you come this time to take the Rakshasa Tablet, and incidentally, take my life as well?"

The Three Friends of Winter could not help but startle, cold sweat breaking out on their backs.

At this moment, they felt Yu Liancheng's gaze was like a sharp sword, slicing them open from head to toe, splitting them in two, exposing all their inner wretchedness and secrets.

Gusong hurriedly said, "The Young Cult Master is joking. We three old men are here this trip to welcome the Young Cult Master to succeed the position."

"Do not call me Young Cult Master; just call me Young Master Yu. The Rakshasa Cult never had a Young Cult Master." Yu Liancheng let out a cold laugh.

Yu Luosha had never intended to let him sit in the position of Sect Leader from the very beginning.

Just imagine, if Yu Luosha really died suddenly, even if "Yu Tianbao" had the Rakshasa Tablet, could he really safely bring the Rakshasa Tablet to the Great Brightness Realm?

I fear that before long, he would be eaten by the Demon Sect experts until not even his bones remained.

Furthermore, even if he really sat in that position, he would mostly be a puppet, a wooden Sect Leader, manipulated by others.

"This... as you command, Young... Young Master Yu." The Three Friends of Winter frowned, yet they remained very disciplined.

"The bitter, cold lands outside the pass—I originally did not want to leave. But since you have come to invite me, it is hard to refuse such kindness. Besides, the Rakshasa Tablet is in my hands; it would be unreasonable not to make the trip."

Yu Liancheng flicked his sleeves and stood up tall: "We leave now, to take over as the Rakshasa Cult Leader."

He was as decisive and swift as ever.

"Master, Master, what about me? I want to go too," Shangguan Xueer could not help but say.

"Go to hell, this isn't playing house," Yu Liancheng scolded irritably: "The people of the Rakshasa Cult are all demons and heretics who kill without blinking and eat people without spitting out the bones. I don't have that much leisure time to protect you."

"I can protect myself," Shangguan Xueer puffed out her chest.

"You can protect your ass—wait..." Yu Liancheng had wanted to refuse, but his eyes suddenly turned, as if he had remembered something: "Fine, you come with me."

Yu Liancheng, his disciple, and the Three Friends of Winter set off, the five of them heading outside the pass.

Although there was still some time before the seventh day of the first lunar month, the journey itself required time, and only with ample time could one appreciate the autumn and winter scenery and have a good time.

Moreover, before the seventh day of the first lunar month, Yu Liancheng still needed to personally subdue the other three Elders and twelve Hall Masters, which was not an easy task.

In addition, Yu Liancheng had a premonition.

Perhaps he would be able to see Yu Luosha without even needing to go into the Rakshasa Cult.

On the way, Yu Liancheng discovered that the "Three Friends of Winter" were more interesting than he had imagined.

For example, among the three, only the eldest, Gusong, would drink alcohol, and he drank it very quickly and in large quantities. It had been three months since he was last drunk.

The other two did not drink alcohol at all, not a single drop.

In reality, these two used to have a high tolerance for alcohol, especially Kuzhu.

But they had not been drunk for over twenty years, because the last time the three of them were drunk, a terrifying thing happened.

After that incident, Kuzhu and Cold Plum never drank alcohol again.

Or, for instance, these three, who appeared to be friends through life and death and as close as brothers, did not have as good a relationship as one might imagine.

Cold Plum was ranked third, and his actual status was the lowest.

Some things that Gusong and Kuzhu were unwilling to do, they would let Cold Plum do.

Although his martial arts were not a bit lower than his two brothers, who told him to be the youngest, who told him to be ranked third.

Of course, these matters had nothing to do with Yu Liancheng.

"Young Master, this time as you succeed to the leadership of the Rakshasa Cult, you must be careful not only of the high-ranking members within the cult but also of the Black Tiger Hall." At Yu Liancheng's request, Gusong began to explain the situation beyond the pass.

"Oh, the Black Tiger Hall?" Yu Liancheng raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed, you must truly be careful of the Black Tiger Hall."

This was the voice of Kuzhu; he said with a hint of gravity: "The Black Tiger Hall is a gang that has risen recently. Although it is within the pass, because of territorial reasons, it has fought with our Rakshasa Cult several times, and each time both sides suffered."

Cold Plum interjected: "Money makes the mare go; the most important reason the Black Tiger Hall could rise is because they have money, a great deal of money."

Yu Liancheng raised an eyebrow: "The Black Tiger Hall can actually stand on equal footing with the Rakshasa Cult?"

Gusong shook his head and said: "That is not the case. The Rakshasa Cult already dominates beyond the pass; no other force can compare to it. As long as the Sect Leader gives the order, dealing with the Black Tiger Hall would not be too difficult."

Kuzhu said: "But our Rakshasa Cult would also have to pay a not-insignificant price. Furthermore, the Flying Jade Tiger is truly cunning and his whereabouts are uncertain; otherwise, there would be no need for the old Sect Leader himself—the three of us joining forces would be enough to deal with him."

Yu Liancheng said: "Is the Flying Jade Tiger the Hall Master of the Black Tiger Hall?"

Cold Plum nodded: "This person's sinister cunning is truly unimaginable. Now that the Sect Leader has passed away and the cult is in chaos, he certainly will not let such a good opportunity slip by, and he will absolutely not let us elect a new Sect Leader so smoothly."

Shangguan Xueer's eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed ahead: "Half-master, there is a town up ahead."